4.16 PHYSIOLOGY [Bot. Absts. 



2837. Bengtson, Ida A. The proteus group of organisms with special reference to agglut- 

 ination and fermentation reactions and to classification. Jour. Infect. Diseases 24: 428-481. 

 19ip. — A detailed study of the morphology and physiology of Proteus vulgaris and closely 

 allied organisms is given. The group is characterized as follows: Rods, varying from short 

 poccoid forms to filaments, gram negative, without endospores, with flagella, when pres- 

 ent, peritrichic, aerobes or facultative anaerobes, liquefying gelatin , often producing charac- 

 teristic stellate colonies, utilizing amino-acids and generally carbohydrates, and may be sapro- 

 phytic or parasitic. Proteus vulgaris is probably most frequently associated with decompos- 

 ing organic matter of animal origin, and the extent of its occurrence in water and soil is re- 

 lated to the amount of such organic matter present. Fermentation and agglutination reac- 

 tions are reported in detail. An extensive bibliography is appended. — Selman A. Waksman. 



2838. Bourqtjelot, Em., and M. Biudel. Syntheses biochimiques simultanees du 

 gentiobiose et des deux glucosides du glycol par l'emulsine. [Simultaneous biochemical syn- 

 theses of gentiobiose and of the two (a and P) glucosides of glycol.] Jour. Pharm. et Chem. 19: 

 329-335. 1919.— A continuation of the authors' experiments to synthesize glucosides. — H. 

 Engelhardt. 



2839. Bourquelot, Em., and M. Bridel. Application de la methode biochimique a 

 l'etude de plusieurs especes d'Orchidees indigenes. Decouverte d'un glucoside nouveau, la 

 loroglossine. [Application of the biochemical method to the study of various species of native 

 orchids. Discovery of a new glucoside, "loroglossin."] Jour. Pharm. et Chim., 20: 81. 1919. 

 — In 1913 the authors examined 18 species of orchids, native in France, belonging to the gen- 

 era Aceras, Cephalanthera, Epipactis, Limodorum, Loroglossum, Neotlia, Platanthera, Ophrys 

 and Orchis. It was found that all these plants contained in aerial portions one or more glu- 

 cosides which were hydrolyzable by emulsin. The authors succeeded in isolating from Loro- 

 glossum hircinium, a new glucoside which crystallizes in the form of long, colorless needles, 

 is odorless, and possesses a very bitter taste. It melts at 137°, is levorotatory and does not 

 reduce Fehling's solution. It is hydrolyzed by heating with dilute sulphuric acid or by emul- 

 sin. — H. Engelhardt. 



2840. Bourqtjelot, Em., and H. Herissey. Application de la methode biochimique a 

 l'etude des feuilles fraiches d'Hakea laurina. Extraction de quebrachite et d'arbutine. [The 

 biochemical method applied to the study of the fresh leaves of Hakea laurina. Extraction of 

 quebrachit and arbutin.] Jour. Pharm. et Chim. 19: 251-255. 1919. — Hakea laurina R. Br., 

 syn. H . eucalyptoides Meissn., is a tree belonging to the family Proteaceae. Its home is Aus- 

 tralia, but it is cultivated in southern France as an ornamental tree. Its branches are sent 

 to Paris in the winter under the name Hakea or red eucalyptus. The authors succeeded in 

 isolating from the leaves two glucosides, quebrachit and arbutin, substances which are also 

 present in the leaves of Grevillea robusta Cunn., belonging also to the family Proteaceae. — H. 

 Engelhardt. 



2841. Bridel, M. Marc. Application de la methode biochemique aux rameaux et aux 

 ecores de diverses especes du genre Populus. [Application of the biochemical method to the 

 branches and barks of various species of the genus Populus.] Jour. Pharm. et Chim. 19: 

 429-434. Ibid. 20: 14-23. 1919. — By applying the biochemical method to the branches and 

 barks of Populus pyramidalis Rozier, P. canadensis Desf., P. alba L., P. Tremula L. and 

 P. nigra L. the authors found various new sugars, which were hydrolyzable by invertin. 

 These possess both higher and lower reduction indices than saccharose and other sugars of 

 this series, such as, gentianose, raffinose, stachyose, and verbascose. The new sugars also 

 differed in other respects and were present both in the woody part of the trees and in the 

 bark. A glucoside with a reduction index higher than 400 isolated from P. pyramidalis 

 exis!s only in the bark. A glucoside with a low reduction index isolated from P. nigra also 

 exists in the bark only. The glucoside in P. canadensis, also present in the bark only, is 

 probably salicin, which is likewise present in the bark of P. alba and P. Tremula. The 

 woody part of these two species contains a glucoside which seems to be identical with that 

 present in the bark of P. nigra. — //. Engelhardt. 



